a feudal tax or tribute payable upon inheritance or succession in medieval Germanic law.
Old High German 'Herrezeld' from 'Herr' (lord, master) + 'Zeld' (payment, tribute). This medieval legal term reflects the complex feudal relationships where successors owed obligations to overlords.
When medieval people inherited land, they didn't just get the property for free—they had to make a 'herezeld' payment to their lord, basically a feudal inheritance tax that kept the lord financially connected to family succession.
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